Manama: His Highness Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Representative of His Majesty the King for Humanitarian Work and Youth Affairs and Chairman of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports (SCYS), extended his congratulations to His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa on Bahrain being chosen to host the Asian Games. This significant announcement was made during the final SCYS meeting of 2024, presided over by HH Shaikh Nasser and attended by key figures including His Highness Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, First Deputy Chairman of the SCYS, Chairman of the General Sports Authority (GSA), and President of the Bahrain Olympic Committee (BOC), along with other council members. According to Bahrain News Agency, HH Shaikh Nasser praised the steadfast support of the government, led by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, for its dedication to advancing the youth and sports sectors. He also congratulated HH Shaikh Khalid on the successful hosting of the International School Sports Federation (ISF) Gymnasiade 2024 in Bahrain, emphasizing the GSA's role in achieving this milestone and affirming the Kingdom's readiness to host both the Asian and Arab Games. Further, HH Shaikh Nasser commended the Ministry of Youth Affairs for receiving the Best Arab Government Project to Empower Young People award at the Arab Government Excellence Awards, underscoring Bahrain's commitment to youth development. The council reviewed significant youth empowerment initiatives, such as the Hope Network, a global platform launched from Bahrain to enhance collaboration in youth empowerment and create environments that maximize youth potential for national progress. The discussions also included indicators from Bahrain's youth empowerment database, which highlighted expanded opportunities for youth in both public and private sectors, emphasizing the importance of skill development for economic growth. The Ministry of Health presented its "Healthy Lifestyle" programme as part of t he national youth empowerment strategy aimed at improving youth public health. Following this presentation, HH Shaikh Nasser instructed the formation of a task force to develop new health-focused programmes in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, including initiatives like the Al Haraka Baraka (movement is a blessing) Authority. In terms of professional development, the Labour Fund "Tamkeen" reported a 33% increase in youth beneficiaries over the past year. Key programmes such as the National Employment Programme, Wage Increment Programme, and Leadership Development Programme were highlighted as major contributors to enhancing youth employability. The Ministry of Industry and Commerce also presented an analysis of youth traders, detailing commercial registrations by ownership, gender, and activity type, which will aid in the development of strategies to enhance youth achievements in industrial, commercial, and technological sectors. Lastly, HH Shaikh Nasser directed the establishment of a task force t o oversee and advance efforts in aligning educational and professional outputs with youth development goals.
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